Can You Feel Your Bladder
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What Is Urinary Retention
Urinary retention is a condition where your bladder doesnt empty all the way or at all when you urinate. Your bladder is like a storage tank for urine. Urine is made up of waste thats filtered out of your blood by your kidneys. Once filtered, the urine moves to your bladder where it waits till its time to move through the urethra and out of the body.
When you have urinary retention, it can be acute or chronic . Acute means that it comes on quickly and it could be severe. Chronic urinary retention means that youve had the condition for a longer period of time.
The acute form of urinary retention is an emergency. In this case, youll need to see a healthcare provider right away. The chronic form happens most of the time in older men, but it can also occur in women.
Other Signs And Symptoms
An abnormal bladder fullness sensation is a symptom of a disease and not a disease on its own. Other symptoms that may also be present includes :
- Painful urination
- Blood in the urine
- Cloudy urine
- Abnormally offensive odor of the urine
- Urinary frequency
The most common causes of an abnormal bladder fullness sensation are :
- Cystitis is inflammation of the urinary bladder. An infection of the bladder as a consequences of an ascending urinary tract infection is the most common cause.
- Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra which is mainly due to an infection. It also occurs frequently with sexually transmitted infections and trauma.
- Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia which are contracted through sexual contact.
Other causes that are due to problems with urinary tract may include :
- Bladder cancer malignant tumor of the bladder.
- Bladder stones stones within the bladder that either forms here or passes down from the kidney .
- Urethral strictures narrowing of the urethra.
- Overactive bladder syndrome involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles.
- Neurogenic bladder damage of the bladder nerves affecting sensation or control.
- Trauma injury to the bladder or urethra especially following catheter insertion.
A bladder fullness sensation may also arise in an otherwise healthy bladder with certain diseases affecting the surrounding organs or related structures :
- Rectal tumors
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Further Help For Bladder Pain
If you are concerned about your problem and it is starting to affect your day-to-day life make an appointment to see your doctor as you may need to be referred to a specialist.
If you are experiencing bladder pain you can contact a continence nurse or specialist physiotherapist, who are healthcare professionals who specialise in bladder and bowel problems.
Information on this page has been updated with the help of www.painful-bladder.org. If youd like to read their information sheet on painful bladder / interstitial cystitis please click here.
You can also find information about painful bladder / interstitial cystitis on the Bladder Health UK website bladderhealthuk.org, Email , Telephone 0121 702 0820
Changes In Bladder Habits Or Symptoms Of Irritation
Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:
- Having to urinate more often than usual
- Pain or burning during urination
- Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full
- Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
- Having to get up to urinate many times during the night
These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection , bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate . Still, its important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
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Interstitial Cystitis: A Severe Form Of Bladder Pain Syndrome
More than three million American women live with pelvic pain related to interstitial cystitis, a condition in which the bladder wall becomes irritated and inflamed, according to the NIDDK. Interstitial cystitis is a severe form of bladder pain syndrome, Siddiqui says.
Bladder discomfort from interstitial cystitis may range from tenderness to severe pain, according to the institute. Another clue that interstitial cystitis is the culprit: Menstruation tends to worsen bladder pain.
Interstitial cystitis is not caused by a urinary tract infection, although the symptoms may worsen if you have interstitial cystitis and get a UTI. While the cause is not understood, according to the NIDDK, certain events or factors seem to trigger flares in symptoms. These include stress, changes in diet, allergies, and taking certain drugs, among other things.
Treatment options for interstitial cystitis include distending the bladder, taking oral medication, physical therapy, and using electrical nerve stimulation to alleviate pain, but there is no known cure. In severe cases, where other treatments havent worked, sometimes surgery is an option.
How Is Bladder Pain Syndrome Diagnosed
There is no one test to tell whether you have bladder pain syndrome. Your doctor or nurse will do a physical exam to look at your lower abdomen and lower back and ask you questions about your symptoms. Your doctor may give you tests to rule out other health problems, such as urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections , bladder cancer, or kidney stones.
Some tests your doctor may do include:
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When To Call A Healthcare Professional
If your Healthcare Professional has given you instructions about when to notify him or her should you experience catheter problems, be sure to follow those instructions.
- No urine or very little urine is flowing into the collection bag and you feel your bladder is full.
- You have new pain in your abdomen, pelvis, legs, or back.
- Your urine has changed colour, is very cloudy, looks bloody, or has large blood clots in it.
- The insertion site becomes very irritated, swollen, red, or tender.
- Your urine has a foul odour .
- Urine is leaking from the insertion site.
- You have a fever.
- You develop nausea, vomiting or feel unwell.
Do not wait until late in the afternoon to call a Healthcare Professional.
If you have a catheter problem contact someone immediately.
Symptoms Of Interstitial Cystitis
The main symptoms of interstitial cystitis are:
- intense pelvic pain
- sudden strong urges to pee
- needing to pee more often than normal
- waking up several times during the night to go to the toilet
The pain may be worse when your bladder is full and may be temporarily relieved when you go to the toilet.
You might also find the pain is worse during periods or after having certain foods or drinks.
The symptoms will often come and go in phases. You may have episodes lasting days, weeks or months where your symptoms improve, followed by times when they’re worse.
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How Doctors Diagnose The Cause Of Bladder Pressure
If you have bladder pressure and feel like you need to urinate frequently, its a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor. In some cases, these symptoms may be signs of a UTI. If you truly have IC, your doctor should still be able to help.
Your doctor may ask you to start keeping a log of your symptoms to bring to your appointment. You should write down how much you drink, how much you urinate, and any pain or pressure you experience.
At your appointment, you will first assess your medical history. Theyll also perform a pelvic exam and test a urine sample to rule out infection.
Other tests include:
Cystoscopy: Your doctor will insert a thin tube into your urethra to look at the inside of your bladder. Youll be numbed beforehand, so this procedure shouldnt hurt.
Biopsy: Your doctor will put you under anesthesia. Then, theyll take some tissue from your bladder and urethra for examination. Your doctor will check the tissue for symptoms of bladder cancer and other causes of pain.
Urine cytology: This urine sample test allows your doctor to examine the cells for cancer.
Potassium sensitivity test: After placing water and potassium chloride into your bladder, your doctor will ask you to rate your pain and need to urinate on a scale from 0 to 5. People with normal bladders usually cant tell a difference between the two solutions. If youre more sensitive to the potassium chloride, it may indicate IC.
Frequent Urination In Women
What is frequent urination?
Frequent urination is the need to urinate more than you normally would. The urge can strike suddenly and can cause you to lose control of your bladder. It can feel uncomfortable, like your bladder is extremely full.
Frequent urination is also referred to as having an overactive bladder. Urologists, who are doctors that specialize in the urinary system, consider going more than 8 times in 24 hours to be frequent urination.
The key to treating frequent urination is addressing the underlying cause.
A urinary tract infection is a common cause of frequent urination. This happens when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra.
Its estimated that 50 to 60 percent of women will experience at least one UTI in their lives. One-third of women will experience one before the age of 24 thats severe enough to require antibiotics.
Women are more at risk for a UTI than men because their urethras are shorter. Bacteria have less distance to travel before they can infect the urinary tract and cause symptoms.
Common risk factors for a UTI include:
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What Medications Can I Use For Overactive Bladder
Your doctor may suggest trying behavioral techniques before having you use a medication to treat overactive bladder. However, medications can work very well to return normal function to the bladder. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of using the following commonly prescribed medications:
Anticholinergic medications
These medications control muscle spasms in the bladder:
- Oxybutynin , oxybutynin XL , oxybutynin TDDS .
- Tolterodine .
- Mirabegron .
Why Does My Bladder Feel Full After I Pee
Pressure in the bladder causes this feeling, which should disappear after a person urinates. However, some people experience this pressure constantly, and it may feel like an ache. This is not normal and is likely caused by interstitial cystitis. This condition is sometimes known simply as bladder pain syndrome.
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What Is Interstitial Cystitis/bladder Pain Syndrome
Interstitial cystitis /bladder pain syndrome is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. For some patients the symptoms may come and go, and for others they don’t go away. IC/BPS is not an infection, but it may feel like a bladder infection. Women with IC/BPS may feel pain when having sex. The more severe cases of IC/BPS can affect your life and your loved ones. Some people with IC/BPS have other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other pain syndromes.
The bladder and kidneys are part of the urinary system, the organs in our bodies that make, store, and pass urine. You have 2 kidneys that make urine. Then urine is stored in the bladder. The muscles in the lower part of your abdomen hold your bladder in place.
How the Urinary System Works
Not Sure What To Do Next
If you are still concerned about your urinary retention, why not use healthdirects online Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether its self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero .
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Introduction Your Browser Does Not Support Html5 Audio Playback You May Download The Audio File Directly Here
Millions of people in the United States struggle with Overactive Bladder symptoms. The most common symptom is the ongoing urgent need to go to the bathroom. Now.
OAB can interfere with work, going out with friends, exercise and sleep. It can lead you to the bathroom many times during the day or night. Some people leak urine after this urgent “gotta go” feeling. Others feel afraid they’ll leak.
Fortunately, there is help and there are treatments.
It took me nearly 5 years to talk with my doctor about this. I’m glad I finally did.
What Causes Interstitial Cystitis
The exact cause of interstitial cystitis is not clear. Unlike other types of cystitis, there’s no obvious infection in the bladder and antibiotics do not help.
In some people with the condition, the bladder is inflamed, ulcerated, scarred or stiff.
There are several theories about the possible cause of the condition.
These include:
- damage to the bladder lining, which may mean pee can irritate the bladder and surrounding muscles and nerves
- a problem with the pelvic floor muscles used to control peeing
- your immune system mistakenly attacking your bladder
- an allergic reaction
It’s also been suggested that interstitial cystitis may be a symptom of a more widespread problem, as it’s been associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome , irritable bowel syndrome and lupus.
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Why Do I Feel Full Of Urine Even After Passing Urine
However, sometimes the bladder fullness sensation occurs even after passing urine or with there being only small amounts of urine contained within the bladder compared to its normal capacity. In these cases the sensation is abnormal and most likely a symptom of some underlying disease of the bladder.
What Causes Bladder Pressure
Doctors arent sure what exactly causes IC. What they do know is that the bladder normally fills and then tells your brain to use the bathroom. It communicates this through the nerves in your body.
With IC, these signals get mixed up. You may feel like you need to urinate more frequently but without a lot of urine at each bathroom trip.
Bladder pressure may also be caused by:
- a defect in the lining of the bladder
- an autoimmune reaction
IC is more common in women than in men. Some people who have IC, also have other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. Other pain syndromes are also possible.
People who have both fair skin and red hair also have a greater risk of IC.
IC is primarily diagnosed in people in their 30s or older.
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Should I Limit The Amount Of Fluids I Drink
No. Many people with bladder pain syndrome think they should drink less to relieve pain and reduce the number of times they go to the bathroom. But you need fluids, especially water, for good health. Getting enough fluids helps keep your kidneys and bladder healthy, prevent urinary tract infections, and prevent constipation, which may make your symptoms worse.9
What Does Bladder Pressure Feel Like
The most noticeable symptom of IC is pain and pressure in the bladder. The pain you experience may range from mild to severe. For some, the pressure can come and go. For others, the feeling doesnt let up.
These symptoms may lead you to think that you have a bladder infection, but IC isnt an infection at all. Its a chronic condition, which means that there isnt cure.
Other symptoms of IC include:
- pelvic pain
- pain while bladder is full and relief when its emptied
- pain during sex
Signs and symptoms vary. Some people may need to urinate up to 60 times each day. You may also experience periods of time when you have no symptoms.
Although IC isnt a UTI, getting an infection can make your symptoms worse.
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Bladder Cancer: Less Common In Women
Bladder cancer is rare, especially in women. Of the roughly 83,730 new diagnoses each year in the United States, about 19,450 are in women, according to the American Cancer Society . The most common symptom is blood in the urine some women also experience a painful, burning sensation when urinating.
Bladder cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. According to the ACS, most people need surgery to remove a tumor or tumors. All or parts of the bladder are removed in severe cases.
Why Am I Feeling Bladder Fullness After Urination
The feeling of fullness even after urination can arise from several causes. There are three fundamental reasons for it:
- If the bladder is not able to completely empty urine.
- Irritation in the bladder wall.
- Pressure from organs such as uterus, intestine, etc that surround the bladder.
Below are some of the common ailments that may lead to incomplete sensation of passage of urine.
- Prostate enlargement and prostate cancer in men.
- Infection and inflammation of bladder.
- Infection in urethra.
- Damage of the nerve innervating urinary bladder. It controls bladder function.
- Injury in bladder or urethra due to instrumentation.
Bladder fullness after urination may also arise in woman due to problems in surrounding structures. It may cause pressure or irritation on the bladder.
- Malignant or benign tumor of ovary, uterus.
- Enlarged uterus in pregnancy can cause pressure on bladder.
- Prolapse of bladder, which in medical parlance is called cystocele.
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